Energy audit inspires
renovation thinking
Victoria homeowner Gabriel Gat
has spent so much time at the local hardware superstore, he says the
employees know him by name.
That’s because he was frequently looking for insulation, windows
and other energy-saving renovation materials that would make the biggest
improvement possible to his 1975 Victoria-area home.
Victoria, BC - 1975
Old windows
New windows (before installation)
Old attic insulation
Energy-saving
Now retired, Gat used to work for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation,
so he knows a thing or two about home energy savings. He also knows what homes are worth.
Making energy-saving improvements to his home was a good way of enhancing
its value, he says.
After a home
energy audit, during which a certified Energy Advisor conducted a detailed audit
of his home’s energy use, Gat was inspired. It made sense, he said, to do as many
renovations as he could from the home energy savings checklist that
he got during his energy audit.
High-efficiency
Gat installed a new high-efficiency condensing gas furnace,
additional insulation in his home’s walls and attic, and new
Energy-Star rated double-pane windows.
The gas furnace heats the home more effectively than the old oil furnace did,
and the extra insulation helps keep the home warmer all winter. And the new
windows prevent drafts and add still more insulation, which is a
huge improvement, Gat says.
Rebates and incentives
Since his renovations, Gat says he has taken to advising others about
the benefits of home energy improvements. When he sees other Victoria-area
homeowners pondering renovations in the hardware store’s insulation aisle,
he says, he tells them about the ecoENERGY grant program and offers
suggestions about insulation or other improvements they might make.
So perhaps it’s no wonder the store’s staff knows him so
well — given everything he knows about renovation products that help a home’s
energy efficiency, he might just be in the running for unofficial employee of the month.
Government grants
-
BC Rebates —
Good news!
The Government of British Columbia continues to provide
LiveSmart BC rebates of up to to $7,000 and more
for home energy renovations.
To qualify you need a home energy audit before you upgrade.
- Canada Grants —
The Government of Canada closed the popular ecoENERGY
Home Retrofit Program on January 29, 2012.
- For more information, call
1-877-732-9888
Victoria homeowners can choose from a shopping list of
South Coastal LiveSmart BC rebates:
-
Insulation — ceiling + wall + foundation,
up to $3,075
-
Furnaces
— high-efficiency gas up to
$600
-
Heat pumps
— air-source heat pump which doubles
as air conditioner up to
$1,600
-
Water heaters
— condensing gas
$300
-
Water heaters
— tankless/instantaneous
gas, condensing-type
$300
-
Boilers
— high-efficiency gas up to
$600
-
HRV
— heat recovery ventilator up to
$900
-
Solar
— hot water system
$500
-
Geothermal
— ground- or
water-source heat pumps
which are energy-efficient heating
and cooling systems up to
$2,500
-
Air conditioning — up to
$2,500
(Heat pumps for energy efficient heating & cooling)
Victoria homeowners can also get ...
And there’s more.
Take advantage of government rebates + grants up to $7,000 and more
for home energy renovation in Victoria BC:
-
LiveSmart BC rebates —
Victoria homeowners can get up to $7,000
and more in home energy grants through the BC government’s
LiveSmart BC rebate program, which is in effect
until March 31, 2013.
Click here for more
-
Home Energy Audits —
To qualify for Government of BC’s
LiveSmart BC rebates,
Victoria homeowners must get a home energy audit
before and after
their home improvement work.
The BC government’s LiveSmart BC program also
subsidizes the cost of your first home energy audit.
Click here for more
-
Other BC rebates —
There are additional
rebates for low-flow
toilets, and even
more grants, rebates and incentives from local BC
governments and energy utilities.
-
Home Renovation Tax Credit —
Many homeowners in Victoria use “tax credit”
to describe a grant program like LiveSmart BC rebates.
The original Home Renovation Tax Credit
(HRTC) expired in 2010.
With today’s 2011 “tax credit” programs
there’s no need to wait until you’ve filed
your annual income tax return to receive a home renovation tax credit.
Your tax-free grant money will be sent within 90 days of
your follow-up energy audit.
Click here for more
Easy to start — Victoria
All you do is make one call —
1-877-732-9888 —
to book a home energy audit with a Victoria Energy Advisor –
your first step to qualifying for Canadia ecoENERGY
grants + LiveSmart BC rebates for home energy renovations.
-
Book your energy
audit with a certified HomePerformance Energy
Advisor. Your BC Energy Advisor will help you
make the right energy saving choices for your Victoria-area home.
Click here
Enjoy all the benefits
Do it right
Each Victoria home has its own specific
energy-savings needs,
and yours is no different. The right renovations
add up to big savings. By following the expert
advice of a certified BC energy advisor,
you’ll make the energy
renovations or "retrofits" that are right for your
Victoria home — and help improve your energy costs and the
Victoria, BC - Capital Regional District’s environment.
Three easy steps
-
Call
for a Victoria energy audit ...
1-877-732-9888
-
Choose
the right renovations for you
-
Save
energy and money
Energy renovations help ...
- Save energy —
Your Victoria home won’t need as much energy
to stay comfortable.
- Save money —
Less energy used = lower energy costs for you.
-
Grants + Rebates —
Qualify for tax-free government grants
for home energy renovation, sent directly to you.
And that’s not all.
Here are more benefits ...
- Greater comfort –
Your home will be warmer in Victoria winters,
cooler in Victoria summers.
- Better health –
You’ll eliminate indoor health concerns like
chills and drafts, and keep your home free of airborne
pollutants and pollen.
- Increased home value –
By making energy renovations, you’ll
increase the resale value of your Victoria home. An
official Canada EnerGuide label proves you’ve
done the work.
- Simpler home maintenance –
No more scrubbing moldy windowsills! Keep airborne
dust and dirt outside where it belongs.
When you improve your home in Victoria, you also make a difference
to the rest of the world. You’ll help address important
global issues like ...
-
Climate change –
Energy renovations help reduce your Victoria
home’s greenhouse gas emissions, while protecting
you from the effects of climate change and extreme
weather.
-
Energy security –
By reducing your Victoria home’s energy use,
you’ll be less deeply affected by energy price
fluctuations and supply interruptions.
And there’s even more. Click here to learn how
Victoria
homeowners like you are saving thousands of
dollars and tonnes of greenhouse gases every year,
by making the right energy-saving home renovations.
Victoria BC homeowners can make a difference.
Learn more about
Renovation Rebates in Victoria BC ...
Home Renovation
|
Equipment
|
To qualify you need a Victoria
home energy audit before your renovations. For more information on
tax-free government grants in British Columbia
or to book a BC home energy audit call
1-877-732-9888.
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